What to Expect When a Gas Fitter Visits Your Adelaide Home

Published 25 April 2026 · Written by Sidney — Licensed Gas Fitter, Pilot Gas Adelaide · 9 min read

TL;DR: A typical Adelaide gas heater service takes 60–120 minutes. A good fitter introduces themselves, shows ID, lays down drop sheets, carries out an 8-point inspection, runs combustion analysis, explains any findings in plain English, writes a detailed invoice with ABN and licence number, and accepts EFTPOS/card. If a fitter arrives in an unmarked ute, demands cash only, or starts with "you need a whole new system mate," show them the door.

Booking the visit

G'day, Sidney here. If you've never had a gas fitter out before — particularly if you've just moved into a house with a heater and have no idea what to do — this is the post I wish existed when my sister bought her first place in Prospect.

Booking us (or most reputable Adelaide fitters) works one of three ways:

• Phone — 0485 676 319. You'll get Sidney or one of our small team. We ask for your suburb, heater type (wall / ducted / space), and whether it's a service or a fault. A rough quote comes within that call. Booking slot usually within 2–5 business days in autumn, same-week in summer, 1–2 weeks in peak winter.
• Text or SMS. Same number. Useful if you're at work and can't call. Good for sending photos of the data plate.
• Web form. Via our contact page. Tell us what you need, we reply within a few hours during business days.

Before we book, we'll confirm: suburb and access, heater brand and age if you know, type of job, preferred time window, and how you'd prefer to pay on the day. We also confirm the callout fee and service rate upfront so there are no surprises — see our service pricing page.

How to prep your home before we arrive

Five minutes of prep saves you money and time. Here's the checklist.

Clear access to the heater

Move anything within 1.5m of the unit — boxes, washing baskets, curtains, furniture. For ducted systems, if the furnace lives in the roof cavity, make sure the manhole is accessible (usually in a robe or hallway). Don't let the washing machine block the return air grille.

Find the isolation valve

There's a small tap/lever somewhere near the heater — that's the gas isolation valve. We'll need to turn it on and off. If it's hidden behind a bookshelf, move the bookshelf.

Secure pets

Doors will be open, we'll be carrying tools, and the fan on a ducted unit starts up surprisingly loud. Pop the dog in the yard or a closed room. Cats usually sort themselves but a nervous one might bolt when the front door's open.

Have your questions ready

If you've been noticing odd smells, noises, rooms that don't heat well, or higher gas bills — write it down. It helps us diagnose on the day.

Know the age if you can

Not critical, but helpful. If you can grab a photo of the data plate beforehand, that's great. Our guide on finding your heater's age shows you where to look.

Clear a path inside and outside

We may need to check the outdoor flue cowl, so unlock the side gate if the heater flues that way. Inside, we need to walk from the front door to the heater without playing Tetris with dining chairs.

On arrival: the first five minutes

Our marked ute pulls up — decaled with the Pilot Gas logo, ABN, licence number and phone. We'll text you when we're five minutes out.

At the door:

1. Introduction by name, showing our licensed gas fitter ID card on request.
2. Confirm the job scope (service, repair, safety check).
3. Confirm the quoted price or agree a scope for a time-based rate.
4. Shoe covers or boot-off for clean-floor homes — we ask.
5. Quick walk-through to the heater and any nearby items that might get moved.

We put down a drop sheet around the unit. Tools come in. Watch included — you're welcome to watch the whole service, ask questions, or leave us to it. Either is fine.

The 8-point service walkthrough

Every service follows the same structure, whether it's a $190 wall furnace or a $320 ducted system. This is what "a service" actually involves — so you know what to expect and what to ask the next fitter you hire.

1. Visual and safety inspection

Before we turn anything on, we look at the unit's physical state. Rust, discolouration, unusual soot marks, damaged pipework, signs of water damage, cracked casing. Photos taken for the report.

2. Flue inspection

Externally — we check the flue cowl outside. Bird nests, leaves, rust-through, cobwebs. Internally — we check the flue connection at the unit, look for joints that have separated, and inspect for back-draught signs (soot marks around the draught diverter).

3. Burner disassembly and clean

The burner bars come out. Vacuum with an industrial wet/dry. Brush off carbon build-up. Inspect injectors for blockages. Clean the main burner chamber.

4. Heat exchanger inspection

Visual inspection, often with a borescope if access is tight. We're looking for cracks, corrosion, rust-through, or fatigue lines. This is the single most important safety check — a cracked heat exchanger is the main cause of CO in Adelaide homes. If we find one, the unit is isolated pending replacement or decommissioning.

5. Ignition, pilot and sensor check

Ignition electrodes cleaned or replaced. Flame sensor cleaned (dirty sensors cause intermittent cutouts — super common). Pilot assembly inspected. Thermocouple tested on older standing-pilot units.

6. Gas pressure and combustion analysis

Manometer on the gas valve — we measure inlet and burner pressures, compare to manufacturer spec. Combustion analyser in the flue — we measure CO in parts per million, CO/CO2 ratio, and flue temperature. Healthy CO is under 100 ppm at the flue, often under 30 ppm. Anything higher and we start diagnosing why.

7. Fan, blower and ductwork (ducted systems)

Fan motor bearings checked, capacitor tested, amp draw measured. Return air filter condition. On ducted systems we pop at least one outlet and inspect the flex duct — crushed or sagging ducts are extremely common in Adelaide roof spaces.

8. Functional test and service record

Run the heater through a full cycle. Temperature-rise measurement (gap between return air and supply air). Room-air CO check with the unit running. Everything goes on the written service report. Service sticker goes on the side of the unit with the date and my licence number.

Total time: 60–90 minutes for a wall heater, 90–120 minutes for a ducted system. For the full service content, see our service page.

Compliance certificate and paperwork

Three pieces of paperwork you should walk away with — or have emailed to you within 24 hours.

• Tax invoice. Must show business name, ABN, gas fitting licence number, date, labour and parts itemised, GST, total. Emailed as PDF. Kept forever for warranty and tax.
• Service report. A written record of everything checked — model, serial, CO readings, gas pressures, photos of findings, pass/fail summary, recommended next-service date. This is what warranty claimants need.
• Certificate of Compliance (when required). For new installations, major modifications, or any work that alters the gas supply pipework. This is the legal document you get from a licensed fitter saying the work complies with AS/NZS 5601. Required if you're selling or claiming insurance.

Straight servicing of an existing heater doesn't need a Certificate of Compliance — a service report is enough. But any gas fitting work beyond servicing (replacing a valve, new pipe run, appliance install) legally requires one.

Payment and invoicing

Most Adelaide gas fitters take a few options:

• EFTPOS / credit card on site via mobile terminal. Visa, Mastercard, sometimes Amex.
• Bank transfer / PayID — invoice emailed, pay from your banking app.
• Cash — fine, but you should still get a tax invoice.

Red flag: a fitter demanding cash only with no invoice. That's either unlicensed or not declaring income — and either way, you have zero recourse if the work is dodgy. A licensed fitter wants the paper trail as much as you do.

Good fitter vs dodgy fitter — how to tell

Twelve years in this trade, I've seen plenty of both. Quick guide.

Good signs

• Marked vehicle with ABN and licence details
• Happy to show their licensed gas fitter card on request
• Explains what they're doing and why, shows you findings
• Measures with calibrated instruments (combustion analyser, manometer)
• Written quote before starting major work
• Itemised invoice with ABN and licence number
• Offers EFTPOS / card as well as cash
• Takes photos of findings for the report
• Leaves the workspace tidier than they found it
• Google reviews from real customers (not a suspicious wall of 50 perfect 5-stars in one week)

Warning signs

• Unmarked ute, no uniform, no ID
• Vague or no quote before starting
• Cash-only, no invoice
• Pressure to replace the whole system on day one
• No combustion analyser visible (you can't do a modern gas service without one)
• Gets defensive when asked about their licence number
• Claims a Certificate of Compliance isn't needed for major work
• Can't provide a local business address or ABN that checks out

Every Adelaide gas fitter's licence number can be looked up through sa.gov.au and cross-checked via ABN on abr.business.gov.au. Takes two minutes.

If the fitter finds something wrong

Roughly 20% of services we do uncover something — often minor (dirty flame sensor, sagging duct), sometimes major (cracked heat exchanger, blocked flue). Here's what should happen:

1. They explain the fault. In words you understand, not jargon.
2. They show you the evidence — photo, the actual part, the combustion reading on the analyser.
3. They explain the risk — is it "safe to keep using for now" or "turn it off immediately"?
4. They quote the fix in writing, with parts and labour itemised.
5. They don't pressure you. You can say "I'll think about it" or "I'll get another quote" and they should hand you the service report and go.
6. For safety-critical faults, they should offer to isolate the appliance so it can't be used until fixed. That's not scare tactics — it's the legal obligation a licensed fitter has under SA gas regulations.

If you're ever unsure about a diagnosis, get a second opinion. Genuine issues hold up to a second inspection. If it's a dodgy "you need a new system" story, a second fitter will often find the unit is fine.

Questions worth asking the fitter

• "What's the CO reading you measured?" (should be a specific ppm number, not "within range")
• "How old do you reckon the unit is?" (cross-check against your own read of the data plate)
• "What's likely to need doing next service?"
• "Any early warning signs to watch for between now and then?"
• "Is the flue install up to current code?"
• "If this unit failed tomorrow, what would you recommend I replace it with?"

A fitter who can answer these off the top of their head is a fitter who actually knows your unit. If you're researching brands, our brand service pages cover what's common on each.

FAQ

How much does a gas fitter visit cost in Adelaide?

A standard service is typically $180–$290 for wall heaters, $250–$350 for ducted systems. Emergency call-outs are higher. See our full breakdown at gas heater service pricing.

Will the gas fitter need to turn off my gas at the meter?

Usually no — we work from the isolation valve at the appliance. If major pipework or the meter itself is involved, we may need to shut off at the meter, but that's for installs and repairs, not routine servicing.

How often should I get a gas fitter out?

Every 1–2 years for servicing. More often if issues arise. Our service frequency guide has the full breakdown.

Is there a callout fee even if the job's cancelled?

Most fitters charge a small callout fee if you cancel within 24 hours of the appointment or if we've travelled to site and the job is called off. We tell you the policy upfront when booking.

Can a gas fitter work on my appliance in a rental property?

Yes, with either tenant or landlord consent depending on the work. For routine servicing, landlords typically authorise directly with us. Tenants can also request emergency safety checks. See our upcoming guide on landlord vs tenant service responsibilities in SA.